Flashing Green Light
Do you know what a green flashing light on a vehicle means?
A green flashing light is used to alert motorists that the vehicle is on its way to an emergency and to p
lease yield or pullover.
In a large city, emergency vehicles are manned by full-time staff, who use the red lights and sirens to get through traffic to the scene of an emergency in a hurry. Seconds count in a fire or rescue situation, and time lost from traffic congestion can make a difference.
In the County of Brant, we receive our fire protection from volunteers, who often respond to emergencies in their own private vehicles. These vehicles are not equipped with red lights or sirens that make them stand out from any other vehicle on the road.
When the call for help comes in, our volunteers may be at their regular job, at the beach with the family or sleeping in the middle of the night. They drop what they are doing and immediately respond to the fire hall to drive the fire trucks to the emergency scene. Once the trucks have responded, firefighters and first responders that did not make it to the hall will continue to the emergency in their personal vehicle.
The flashing Green Light is used only as an identifier to the drivers of other vehicles so that they may give up their right-of-way and allow the firefighter to get to the emergency unimpeded. The use of the light is controlled by the Fire Chief, who has the authority to allow or terminate the firefighter’s use of the light.
If you see a flashing green light in the County of Brant, please pullover. Every second counts in an emergency.